Too hard to establish a measure of child poverty John?

A United Nations report has today directly challenged New Zealand to take action to address child poverty, including establishing a national definition of poverty, according to Metiria Turei, co-leader of the Green Party.

“The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has today said it is seriously concerned about child poverty in New Zealand. It has called for us to establish a definition of poverty so progress to reducing it can be measured.”

“But John Key still refuses to measure child poverty – and that appears to be because he doesn’t want to be judged on his failures.

“None of us want to live in a country where child poverty is considered normal. But John Key continues to say it’s too hard to measure – and that’s simply a failure of leadership,” said Metiria Turei.

Measures the UN Committee has urged New Zealand to adopt include:

Introducing a systemic approach to addressing child poverty, in particular Maori and Pasifika children, including establishing a national definition of poverty
Substantially increasing funding to directly and comprehensively tackle child poverty
Called for coordinated systems in Government to invest in children, track that investment and ensure appropriate measurements of children’s wellbeing.
Strengthening social protection mechanisms and intensifying efforts to provide safe and adequate housing to all children

Action

Oppose New Zealand First’s Member’s Bill!

Support Trans Rights | Oppose the Gender Definition Bill

Action

Reject the Defining Gender Bill

Reject the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill introduced by New Zealand First.

Action

Disability Support System - Submission Guide

Uphold disability rights so disabled people and their whānau can thrive. Oppose the Disability Support Services Bill

Action

Oppose the 2026 budget

Sign our petition to show you oppose the Government's 2026 budget

Action

Leave our homes alone!

The Green Party is calling on the Government to stop its attack on people living in public housing - join our call today!

Action

Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill Submission Guide

Support Green MP Kahurangi Carter’s Bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks!

Action

Keep Fees Free

Join our call to keep Fees Free for tertiary education!

Action

Protect Conservation Land

Sign out petition to oppose the Conservation Amendment Bill and protect conservation land!

Action

Stop the Fisheries Amendment Bill

Sign today to protect our moana.

Action

Electrify everything

Show your support for a National Electrification Plan!

Action

A home for everybody

A home for everybody - sign and share the open letter today!

Action

Tell us your stories about our special places

Share with us your stories about the places threatened by being fast tracked for mining permits.

Action

Protect our tamariki - Sign the open letter

Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Sign our open letter today and help make that a reality!

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Children Announcements

Story

One year on from apology, Government still missing in action

Today marks one year since the Government’s formal apology to survivors of abuse in state care. On that day, words were spoken that recognised the ...

Green Party launches open letter to Minister for Children

The Green Party has launched an open letter calling on the Minister of Children to adopt seven promises to children in state care.

New report confirms Oranga Tamariki is failing tamariki and Government is failing Māori

A new report, ‘Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system 2023/24,’ has confirmed that Oranga Tamarik...

Report exposes damage of rushed cuts to Oranga Tamariki

Today’s report into last year’s Oranga Tamariki contract procurement process confirms the Government’s brutal cuts were rushed, poorly managed, and...

Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care

Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology.

Without action, an apology will be empty air

For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that...

Story

Government clears the way to automate decisions about people's survival

The Green Party is condemning the Government's move to hand decisions on benefits over to automated systems, warning it will leave more people in h...

National’s public housing reform ‘cuts costs’ at the expense of our most vulnerable

The Green Party is warning that the Government’s changes to public housing will see more public housing tenants evicted and driven deeper into pove...

Government legalises debts for survivors of sexual violence and abuse in state care

The Government today passed legislation entrenching nearly 40,000 people, including many sexual abuse and abuse in state care survivors in debt.

Another blow to young people as unemployment reaches near nine-year high

Unemployment has surged to its highest level in close to nine years, with young people bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Govt for the rich failing unemployed New Zealanders

Today’s Ministry of Social Development stats, which show record numbers of New Zealanders relying on benefits, are further proof that the Governmen...

New high in unemployment as Govt punishes the jobless

Latest stats indicating the worst unemployment numbers since the outbreak of the pandemic are further proof that the Government’s policies are forc...